JPH0968919A - Answer rating processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to execute intermediate rating as well in addition to correct answers/incorrect answers by making it possible to easily execute the answer rating processing of description tests and selection type tests of a choice writing system. SOLUTION: The answer paper images read by a scanner section 4 or image input/output means 7 and various kinds of information on correct answers, rating standards, results of decision, scores, etc., are preserved in a memory section 5. Answer column images and correct answer sentences are displayed in parallel in a display section 8 so that a rating person is able to easily carry out the rating processing. Partial scores may be given in the description tests as well by providing the rating standards. The overwriting and printing of the answer paper 1 with the results of the rating or the synthesis of the answer images and the results of the rating and the output as images are made possible by a printer section 10 and an image input/output means 7 with respect to the results of the rating.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an answer scoring apparatus capable of scoring various test questions, outputting scoring results, and the like, which are conducted at educational institutions or qualification institutions.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, various tests are continuously conducted at educational institutions or qualification institutions. Among them, the written tests are based on the form of questions, descriptive test, selective test, descriptive / selective combination test. There are three types.

[0003] The descriptive test is a test in which a test taker directly writes in each answer a word of about several letters as an answer or a long sentence such as a paper as an answer.
The above described descriptive test is a test form that is generally widely used in judging the academic ability of test takers.

On the other hand, in the selective test, the answer to each question is composed of several options, and the examinee selects one of the options that seems to be correct,
It is a test that answers with the symbols of choices. The choice test is further classified into an answer entry method in which an option symbol is directly written in the answer field and a mark sheet method in which a predetermined position in the answer field is filled with a black pencil or the like.

On the other hand, the descriptive / selective combination test is a test that incorporates both the descriptive test and the selective entry method of the selective test.

Conventionally, the mark sheet method in the selective test has been one of the techniques for supporting the scoring of the test.
This method is for scoring answers, printing out scoring results,
It is characterized in that statistical calculation processing of average points and deviation values is accurately and quickly performed. Therefore, it can be said that the mark sheet method is a very effective means when the examination is performed by a large number of examinees or when scoring processing is desired in a short period of time.

However, with respect to the option entry system in the selective test and the scoring process of the descriptive test, there is a problem that the character recognition rate of the processing device for the handwritten characters of each examinee is not good in the past. Occurrence and mechanical scoring are still in the development stage. In other words, there is no technology that covers a detailed processing method that solves the problems such as the character recognition rate. So far
In particular, when scoring a descriptive test, as a means of comparing the answer and the model answer, for example, the grading person makes them one by one.
There were means such as comparing them on a paper and comparing with the answer while listening to the model answer information notified by voice. However, in these scoring means, since the other work such as the above-mentioned collation work and listening work is added to the work for performing the original scoring, a problem occurs in the work environment, which affects the processing speed. Conceivable. In addition, it cannot be denied that human errors such as scoring errors are likely to occur.

Therefore, regarding an apparatus having functions such as scoring processing, scoring result printing processing, various statistical processing, etc. relating to a test that occurs regardless of whether it is a descriptive test or a selective test, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 50-104542. JP-A-60-6628
No. 1, Gazette No. 60-70858, Gazette No. 5-
Various proposals have been made so far, as disclosed in JP-A-8671 and JP-A-6-130884.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 50-104542 discloses the following regarding a mechanical device for creating test questions and scoring. The examiner first selects the exam question from the catalog that lists the exam questions. that time,
The test questions can be selected from either descriptive questions or multiple-choice questions, and the examiner can freely choose each time. Then, the computer inputting all the test questions listed in the above catalog can print out the test questions selected by the tester. In the multiple choice test, the answer sheet is mechanically scanned by a computer and scored after the test is completed. The test results are then printed out in the desired report format.

In Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 60-66281, a mark sheet type answer sheet for a selection type question is read by the apparatus main body, and at the same time, automatic scoring is performed, and the score result is output to a cassette tape or printed out. A device capable of doing so is disclosed. In addition, this apparatus can also perform statistical calculation analysis processing (calculation of the highest point, the lowest point, the average point, the deviation value, etc.) by inputting the obtained points into the apparatus.

According to Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 60-70858, by marking a "○" for each correct answer and a "×" for an incorrect answer with a special input pen, each answer is automatically marked. Is disclosed regarding a device for calculating a score. For more details, determine whether it is “○” or “×” by detecting the moving direction of the input pen core when writing “○” or “×”, and add the score of “○” This is a configuration capable of calculating the total score for each individual. Further, based on the obtained data, it is also possible to calculate an average point, a deviation value, etc., and print it out.

In Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 5-8671, the characters written on a normal answer sheet are optically read, and at the same time, the read result is compared with the correct answer data, and whether the answer and the correct answer are matched or not is determined automatically. It is disclosed about the answer scoring device which can be scored and printed after the scoring on the answer sheet by overwriting. This device is
In addition to scoring the selective test, it is also possible to score the descriptive test if the answer is a monotonous character string such as a short sentence. Also,
By analyzing the scoring results, the correct answer rate, average score, score distribution, variance, etc. of each question can be aggregated.

In Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 6-130884, the grader has "○", "x", a score number, etc. on the answer sheet placed on the digitizer in accordance with the model answer notified by voice. Is disclosed with a pen, and various statistical processing can be performed based on the entered scoring information. This device is characterized in that the grader does not look at the model answer and makes a grade according to the voice information.

[0014]

However, the above-mentioned conventional structure has the following problems.

In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 50-104542, it is possible to create various test questions for the descriptive test, the selective test, and the combined descriptive / selective test. However, regarding the machine scoring process of the answer, the automatic scoring and the printing of the scoring result are limited to the scoring process for the answer of the selective test. Further, there is no disclosure regarding the scoring process of the descriptive test. The problem with this type of device is therefore that it does not extend to the fields that require performing descriptive tests.

In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-66281, automatic scoring can be performed only for the mark sheet type answer of the selective test, and the option filling method of the selective test and the scoring process of the descriptive test. There is a problem that can not handle. Also, although the scoring result can be printed out, only the score can be printed out, so to check the content of the score, which question is correct and which is incorrect ,
There is also a problem that you do not know until you check the graded answer sheet. Further, since the form of the answer sheet is limited to the selective type, there is a problem that it does not spread to the field requiring the execution of the descriptive test as in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 104542/1975. Also, because printouts are limited to scoring, educational institutions such as schools that require a test form to return graded answer sheets to students,
The problem also arises that this device is unacceptable.

Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 60-70858 only discloses a technique for inputting the correctness of an answer with an input pen and automating the scoring of score results. Nothing is disclosed about how to facilitate the scoring of combination tests. In addition, since the scoring means is limited to the symbol "o" or "x", there is a choice between correct answer and incorrect answer. As a result, there is no problem in the selective test, but in the descriptive test, "○",
In addition to "x", moderate scoring such as giving a partial point or giving a deduction is often used, so that this type of device is difficult to use.

According to Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 5-8671, the range in which the automatic scoring process is possible is limited to monotonous character strings such as numbers, symbols and short sentences. As a result, the test form is a selective test or a simple test. Since it is limited to the descriptive test or a simple descriptive / selective combined test, this type of device has a problem that it does not spread to the fields such as papers that require the execution of the long descriptive test. Further, since a means for improving the character recognition rate of the read data when the answer sheet is read by the scanner has not been clarified, there is a problem that the feasibility is poor from the viewpoint of character recognition.

According to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-130884, the test question can be scored regardless of whether it is a descriptive test or a selective test. However, since the scoring is performed based on the model answer that is announced by voice, There is a problem that not only visual but also auditory is required for the scoring work, and the continuous monotonous voice that informs the model answer easily creates an environment in which a scoring error occurs due to a mistake of the grader.

Further, conventionally, there is no disclosure about how to deal with a case where a part of the answer sheet which is turned upside down is misplaced when reading the answer sheet.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and its main purpose is to prepare a scoring work environment in order to facilitate the scoring work. More specifically, the descriptive test It is possible to facilitate the grading of, the scoring of the option filling method of the selective test and the scoring of the descriptive / selective combination test, and it is possible to perform accurate scoring even if you are not the questioner.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an answer scoring processing device capable of adding a comment or the like of a grader to an answer sheet. Another object of the present invention is to provide an answer scoring processing device capable of scoring even if the answer sheets are not aligned in the vertical direction, and to broaden the field of use of the answer scoring processing device.

[0022]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the answer scoring processing device according to the invention of claim 1 comprises: a reading means for reading an answer sheet in which an answer to a question is filled by an examinee; First storage means for storing the above-mentioned answer read by the reading means, input means for inputting the correct answer of the question and scoring criteria for the question, and second storage means for storing the input correct answer are input. The third storage means for storing the scoring criteria and the first to third storage means respectively divided into a plurality of areas are managed in association with each other for each question, and at the time of scoring the answer, the answer, the correct answer and the scoring. Control means for controlling the reading of the first to third storage means and the display on the display screen so that the reference and the reference are simultaneously displayed in parallel for each question on the display screen. It is characterized in that.

With the above arrangement, the control means manages the first to third storage means in association with each other for each question, so that the answer stored separately in each storage means via the reading means and the input means. The correct answer and the scoring standard can be read so as to form a set for the corresponding question. Therefore, the answer, the correct answer, and the scoring standard are grouped for each question and displayed simultaneously on the display screen. As a result, the grader does not need to compare the answers and the correct answers one by one on a sheet to score, or to score while listening to the model answer notified by voice. Since the answer and the correct answer are simultaneously displayed in parallel on the display screen, the grading performed by the grader is visually easy and the work efficiency is improved. As a result, the grader can accurately and quickly perform the scoring process. In addition, when scoring, not only the answer and the correct answer but also the scoring criteria are displayed in parallel at the same time, so the scoring person can perform scoring based on the unified scoring criteria, and even if he is not the examiner himself. Accurate scoring can be done easily. In particular, when scoring an examination with a large number of examinees, simultaneous display of the scoring criteria is effective and helps to add partial points fairly. In addition, the above-described action can expand the field of use of the answer score processing apparatus.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the answer scoring processing device according to the invention of claim 2 has, in addition to the structure of claim 1, the specified question at the time of scoring the answer is a selection-type question or a descriptive expression. When the designated question is judged to be a selectable question by the question judging means for judging whether it is a question, the corresponding answer column area is cut out from the answer stored in the first storage means. The specified area reading means for reading out by reading, the character recognizing means for recognizing the content of the area read by the specified area reading means, and the content of the area and the corresponding correct answer are compared based on the character recognition to judge the correctness. The correctness determination means and the control means, when the question designated by the question determination means is a selection type question, store the determination result determined by the correctness determination means in the first storage. If the question specified by the question judging means is judged to be a descriptive question, the answer, the correct answer, and the scoring standard are displayed simultaneously in parallel for each question on the display screen. Is characterized by.

With the above configuration, even if the multiple choice problem,
Even if descriptive questions are mixed, by using the scoring processing method corresponding to each of the multiple choice question and the descriptive question, the question determination means determines whether the designated question is a multiple choice question or a descriptive question. Scoring is possible. In order to enable the determination by the question determining means, various methods such as pre-inputting the determination information for each question or adding the determination information to the answer sheet can be considered. In the case of scoring a multiple-choice question, the character recognition means character-recognizes the number or character etc. entered by the examinee, the correctness determination means compares the answer contents with the correct answer, and the control means determines the correctness result. The work up to storing in the first storage means is automatically performed. With this automatic scoring, the grader does not need to grade the multiple choice questions, and the grader's burden of scoring work is reduced. On the other hand, when the question to be scored is a descriptive question, the answer, the correct answer, and the scoring standard are simultaneously displayed in parallel on the display screen, so that the same action and effect as in claim 1 can be obtained.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the answer scoring processing apparatus according to the invention of claim 3 has the structure of claim 1 or claim 2, and in addition to the structure of claim 1, when answering is scored, the corresponding answer column is displayed vertically and horizontally. Comprising a comparison means for comparing the magnitude relationship of the length, the control means, based on the comparison result by the comparison means, the display screen is divided into left and right or up and down, while displaying the answer on one of the divided display screen. , The correct answer and the scoring standard are displayed on the other of the divided display screens.

With the above construction, the control means performs appropriate display division based on the comparison result by the comparison means and simultaneously displays the answer and the correct answer in parallel, so that the data is easy to see and the scoring is easy. It is possible to give a good scoring environment. For example, the display screen is divided into left and right for vertical writing data seen in a test in a national language, and the display screen is divided into upper and lower portions for horizontal writing data seen in mathematics and English. By this measure, the visibility of the answer and the correct answer is improved, it becomes easy to compare and examine the answer and the correct answer, and the efficiency of the scoring work is improved.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the answer scoring processing device according to the invention of claim 4 reads the answer sheet in which the answer to the question is written by the examinee, and the reading means. Storage means for storing the image of the answer sheet in each divided area, and specific information reading means for reading the information including the order of the answer sheet added to the specific position of the answer sheet from the storage area of the storage means. And when the specific information reading means cannot read the information, the image of the answer sheet stored in the storage means is rotated, and a plurality of answer sheets stored in the storage means based on the read information. And an aligning means for sorting the images in the order of the answer sheet.

With the above configuration, by adding information to a specific position of the answer sheet, the reading means such as a scanner reads the image of the answer sheet and stores it in the storage means, and then the vertical direction is reversed. The answer sheet image can be rotated 180 degrees inside the device with respect to the inserted answer sheet to correct the vertical direction. This eliminates the need to reinsert the answer sheet in the proper direction.
Therefore, it is possible to quickly read the answer sheet. For example, when scoring answers for a large number of examinees in a university exam or the like, the vertical direction of all the answer sheets is not always aligned in a fixed direction. Even in this case,
It is not necessary to manually arrange the answer sheets in a certain direction,
It is possible to perform the scoring process by inserting the collected answer sheet into the device as it is.

Further, when the answer sheet for one test is composed of a plurality of sheets according to the above-mentioned constitution, by adding information to a specific position of the answer sheet, when the reading means reads the image of the answer sheet, the page is read. Even if the numbers are read out of order, the answer sheet images can be rearranged in ascending order of page numbers by the aligning means.

[0031]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 shows a system configuration diagram of the answer scoring apparatus of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the answer sheet 1 includes at least a header 2 as a header portion, an examination number column 3, an answer column for questions, and the like. Information such as the type of test and the number of pages is described in the header 2, but detailed contents will be described later. In some cases, questions may also be written on the answer sheet 1, and the question sheet and the answer sheet 1 may be the same sheet. The examinee fills in the answer on this answer sheet 1.

The answer sheet 1 on which the answers are written is optically read by the scanner section 4 as a reading means.
At the same time, the read answer sheet image 1a is converted into image data which is an electric signal by photoelectric conversion. The converted image data of the answer sheet image 1a is stored in the storage unit 5.

The examination number on the read answer sheet image 1a, the entered options, and the header 2 described later.
The character information of can be obtained as character data by the character recognition unit 6 as a character recognition means. That is, the character recognition unit 6 has a function of recognizing a character from a specified area of image data and converting the character into character data. The character data thus obtained is also stored in the storage unit 5.

As a means for reading the answer sheet 1,
The present processing apparatus also includes an image input / output unit 7 in addition to the scanner unit 4. In the present embodiment, the image input / output unit 7 includes a FAX 7a and a video 7b. By using this means, the answer sheet image 1a can be received via a communication means such as a telephone line, and the answering process sent from a remote place can be scored. The read answer sheet image 1a is stored in the storage unit 5 as described above.

The storage unit 5 for storing the image data of the answer sheet image 1a and the character data has four storage means 5a, 5b, 5c, 5 of the first, second, third and fourth storage means.
d. In addition to the above, the types of information to be stored are question number, position information in the examination number column 3 and answer column,
There is a correct answer or a model answer sentence, a keyword in the answer sentence, a score, a scoring standard, a comment and the like. In the present embodiment, which of the first to fourth storage means 5a to 5d the individual information is stored in is determined, but the detailed contents will be described later.

The various information stored in the storage unit 5 is displayed on the display screen 8a of the display unit 8 when scoring. For example, information necessary for scoring such as answer sheet image 1a, correct answer or model answer, keyword, scoring, scoring standard, etc. is displayed on the display screen 8a. The grader can perform various scoring processes while looking at the information displayed on the display screen 8a.

Here, this processing apparatus is provided with the input means 9 and can give various instructions to this system. That is, by using the input means 9, the position of the answer column before the scoring, the question number, the correct answer or the model answer text, the keyword, the scoring, the scoring standard, and the scoring result after the scoring, the comment, etc. are input. The grader can do this while looking at the display screen 8a. In this embodiment, a keyboard 9a, a mouse 9b, and a pen 9c are provided as the input means 9. The grader uses the keyboard 9a to write characters and the mouse 9b
The cursor position can be input with and the character, cursor position, image data, etc. can be input with the pen 9c.

After the scoring, the printer unit 10 can output the scoring result. Printer unit 10
Has a function of printing various scoring results on the answer sheet by overwriting, and a function of combining the image data of the answer sheet 1 and various scoring results and printing.

In addition to the printer unit 10, the image input / output unit 7 can output the scoring result.
For example, if the above-mentioned FAX 7a and video 7b are used,
It is also possible to transmit the answer sheet image 1a after grading or a scoring result image obtained by synthesizing the answer sheet image 1a and various scoring results to a remote place via a communication means such as a telephone line.

The control of the entire system described above is performed by the CPU 11 as a control means. The CPU 11 has a built-in internal storage means 11a, and the internal storage means 11a
The image data of the answer sheet image 1a, information such as a scoring result, etc. are temporarily stored in the memory, and the internal storage means 11a is used when the CPU 11 performs various processes.

The system configuration according to the present embodiment has been described above.

Before describing the details of the system configuration, a rough flow of operation in the present embodiment will be described for the purpose of helping understanding of the role of the details. The operation in this embodiment is shown in FIGS.
As shown in the flow chart of 8,
It is divided into two tasks.

The first is model answer input work as shown in the flowchart of FIG. In this work, a blank answer sheet 1 is input, the positions of the examination number column 3 and the answer column, etc. are designated, and the correct answer or the model answer sentence is input. Since this work is required once for each answer sheet, the number of answer sheets to be graded when the answer sheet for one test is composed of multiple sheets or when the examinations of multiple subjects are conducted. Repeat for minutes. For example, the answer sheet for the English test is 3
If the math test is composed of two pieces and the scoring process is performed for both English and mathematics, this model answer input operation is repeated five times in total.

The second is scoring work as shown in the flowchart of FIG. This work is further divided into answer sheet input work in the first half process and scoring judgment input work in the second half process.

The answer sheet input operation in the first half is an operation of reading the answer sheet 1 in which the answer is written by the examinee with the scanner unit 4 and saving the obtained image data in the storage unit 5. This work is repeated for the number of answer sheets to be scored.

In the latter half of the scoring judgment input work, the image data of the answer sheet 1 is called from the storage unit 5, the image data of the answer column is cut out from the image data of the answer sheet 1, and the display screen is displayed in parallel with the correct answer or the model answer sentence. 8a, and the grader inputs the judgment or the like to score.

The third is a scoring result output operation as shown in the flowchart of FIG. This work is a work of overwriting various scoring results on the answer sheet, or synthesizing the answer sheet image data and the scoring result, and printing or transmitting to the communication path. Repeat this work for the number of answer sheets.

The above is the general flow of the operation in this embodiment.

Next, a concrete example of the answer sheet 1 is shown in FIG.
The details will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 3, the answer sheet 1 has, in addition to the header 2 as the above-mentioned header portion and the examination number column 3, an answer column 12 for a choice question and an answer column 13 for a descriptive question as answer columns.
And

The examination number column 3 is provided on the upper right side of the answer sheet 1 and the examination number is written therein by the examinee.
In this specific example, the examination number column 3 has 6 digits, but it goes without saying that the number of digits can be arbitrarily increased or decreased as necessary. The examinee number shall be given to each examinee in order to identify the examinee when multiple persons take the examination.

In the answer column 12 of the multiple choice question, numbers or symbols representing the choices given in the question or katakana or hiragana are entered.

In the answer field 13 of the descriptive question, the answer to the question is described. Candidates should, in principle, write their answers in the frame of this answer column, but even if the answer should be written outside the frame due to the reason that the answer column is narrow, etc., it will be described later. Scoring is possible by the scoring process of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 4, the header 2 has a rectangular shape having a vertical length L ₁ and a horizontal length L ₂ . Further, the header 2 further has a mark 21 and header information 22.

The mark 21 is a rectangular shape having a length L ₁ in the up-down direction and a length L _{3 in} the left-right direction, and has a lattice pattern on the whole. This is so that when the scanner unit 4 reads the header 2, it can be easily determined that it is the header 2. The header information 22 has a rectangular shape with a vertical length of L ₁ and a horizontal length of L ₂ -L ₃ . In this specific example, the mark 21 is arranged on the left side, the header information 22 is arranged on the right side, and the right side of the mark 21 and the left side of the header information 22 are aligned. are doing.

The header information 22 further includes a test number 23 as information for identifying which test answer sheet,
In the case of one set of a plurality of answer sheets, it has a page number 24 for distinguishing the answer sheets. This allows
The header information 22 contains different contents as information for each test or each page.

Next, referring to FIG. 3, the description position of the header 2 on the answer sheet 1 will be described. Origin at the upper left corner A ₁ of the answer sheet 1, i.e., when the coordinates of the point A ₁ and (0,0), X ₀ to the right from point A _1,
Align the upper left corner B ₁ of the header 2 with the position of Y ₀ downward,
The vertical edge and the horizontal edge of the header 2 are arranged to be parallel to the vertical edge and the horizontal edge of the answer sheet 1, respectively. Incidentally, at this time, the coordinates of the point B ₁ are (X ₀ , Y ₀ ), and the coordinates of the lower right corner C ₁ of the header 2 are (X ₀ + L ₂ , Y ₀ + L ₁ ). The header 2 has the same shape at the same position on any answer sheet.

In the specific example of the answer sheet 1, the header information 22 is located on the right side of the mark 21, but the positional relationship between the mark 21 and the header information 22 is not limited to that shown in this specific example. is not. Further, in this example, the problems of the selection formula and the description formula are used together, but the present invention is not necessarily limited to this. Further, in this specific example, the question and the answer column to the question are provided on the same sheet,
The question and answer fields may be created on different sheets. Also,
The positions of the examination number field 3, the answer field 12 for the multiple choice question, and the answer field 13 for the descriptive question are not limited to those shown in this specific example, and the position is entered each time by the entry position input method described later. Is done.

Next, the storage contents of the storage unit 5 described above are shown in FIG. 2 and the details thereof will be described. As described above, the storage unit 5 is composed of the first to fourth storage means 5a to 5d. Hereinafter, the first storage unit 5a will be described in order.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the first storage means 5a stores the storage areas of the answer header information storage section M11, the examination number storage section M12, the answer sheet image storage section M13, and the questions. It is composed of a region M14. One first storage means 5a is prepared for each answer sheet. When the answer sheet for one test is composed of a plurality of sheets,
There are a plurality of first storage units 5a similar to those shown in FIG. Next, each storage area will be described.

The header information storage section M11 of the answer is shown in FIG.
The header information 22 shown in is stored as character data.
The header information 22 allows the type of test and the page number to be determined.

In the examination number storage section M12, the examination number read from the examination number column 3 shown in FIG. 3 is stored as character data.

The image data of the answer sheet 1 read by the scanner unit 4 or the image data of the answer sheet 1 input from the image input / output means 7 is stored in the answer sheet image storage unit M13.

On the other hand, the area M14 of each question is divided by the question number. Specifically, the area of question 1 is M
The areas of 141 and question 2 are designated as M142, ..., and various information described below regarding question 1, question 2, ... Is stored. There are as many questions as there are questions in this area, and the question numbers are different for each answer column.

As an example of the area M14 of each question, question 1
2D shows the contents stored in the area M141 of FIG. Question 1
The area M141 is composed of a question number storage unit M1411, a determination result storage unit M1412, a score storage unit M1413, and a comment storage unit M1414, and various information is stored in the corresponding storage unit.

The question number is stored in the question number storage section M1411. Since the area of question 1 is taken as an example, "1" is stored in this case. The stored question number is later associated with the data for the answer column of the same question number in the second and third storage units 5b and 5c.

The judgment result storage unit M1412 stores the symbols ◯, ×, and Δ that are given as judgment results for the answer to the question. By the way, ○ is a symbol attached when the answer is correct and × is a symbol attached when the answer is incorrect. Further, Δ is a symbol which is difficult to judge whether the answer is correct or incorrect and is given when a partial point is given.

The score storage unit M1413 stores the score given by the grader to the answer to the question.

In the comment storage unit M1414, comments, underlines, check marks, etc. added by the grader to the answer of the examinee on the answer sheet image 1a are stored as image data. The comment or the like can be written by the grader on the display screen 8a by using the input means 9 such as the pen 9c.

In the following, area M142 of question 2 and question 3
, The area M143 of question 1
Since the same contents as 41 are stored, detailed contents will not be mentioned.

Next, the second storage means 5b will be described.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the second storage means 5b is composed of a storage area of the answer header information storage section M21 and an examination number column position storage section M22, and an area M23 of each question. Has been done. Similar to the first storage means 5a, one second storage means 5b is prepared for each answer sheet. Therefore, when the answer sheet for one test is composed of a plurality of sheets, the second storage means 5b similar to that shown in FIG. 2B is used.
There will be more than one. Next, each storage area will be described.

In the header information storage section M21 of the answer, the first
Header information storage unit M11 of the answer in the storage means 5a of
Similarly, the header information 22 of FIG. 4 is stored as character data.

The examination number column position storage section M22 stores coordinate data indicating the position of the examination number column 3. The upper left corner N of the examination number column 3 with the upper left corner A ₁ of the answer sheet as the origin
The coordinates of ₁ (see FIG. 3) are (X _n , Y _n ), and the lower right corner M _{1 is} the same.
Assuming that the coordinates of (X _m , Y _m ) are
It is composed of a total of four data of X _n , Y _n , X _m , and Y _m .

The area M23 of each question is the first storage means 5
As in the area M14 of each question a, the questions are classified by question number. Specifically, the area of question 1 is M231,
The area of question 2 is designated as M232, ..., and various information explained below regarding question 1, question 2 ,. There are as many questions as there are questions in this area, and the question numbers are different for each answer column.

As an example of the area M23 of each question, question 1
2E shows the contents stored in the area M231. Question 1
Region M231 of the question number storage unit M2311, answer column position storage unit M2312, test type determination flag storage unit M23.
13, a correct / model answer text storage unit M2314 and a keyword storage unit M2315.

The question number is stored in the question number storage unit M2311. Since the area of question 1 is taken as an example, "1" is stored in this case.

The answer column position storage unit M2312 stores coordinate data indicating the position of the answer column.

The test type discrimination flag storage section M2313 contains
A flag set via the keyboard 9a or the like is stored as an index for determining whether the question is a selection type or a descriptive type. This flag is saved if the question is multiple choice.

In the correct answer / exemplary answer sentence storage unit M2314,
The text of the correct answer or the model answer of the question is saved as character data.

In the keyword storage unit M2315, when scoring an answer to a descriptive question, when the model answer text includes a phrase such as a keyword, the grader stores position data of the keyword or the like. The position data such as a keyword is composed of two sets of numbers "from what character to what character" counted from the beginning of the model answer text. The keyword information is not limited to one, and an arbitrary plurality of keywords can be handled.

In the following, area M232 of question 2 and question 3
Regarding the area M233 of ..., the area M2 of question 1
Since the same contents as 31 are stored, detailed contents will not be mentioned.

Next, the third storage means 5c will be described.

As shown in FIG. 2C, the third storage means 5c has a header information storage section M31 and an area M3 for each question.
2 and. Like the first and second storage units 5a and 5b, one third answer storage medium 5c is prepared for one answer sheet, so that a plurality of answer sheets for one test are configured. In this case, there are a plurality of third storage means 5c similar to those shown in FIG.

The header information 22 shown in FIG. 4 is stored in the answer header information storage unit M31 as character data, like the answer header information storage units M11 and M21 in the first and second storage units 5a and 5b. It

The area M32 for each question is the area M1 for each question.
Like M4 and M23, they are classified by question number.
Specifically, the area of question 1 is M321, the area of question 2 is M322, ..., And various information described below regarding question 1, question 2, ... Is stored. This area has the number of questions, and the question number is given differently for each answer column.

As an example of the area M32 of each question, question 1
2F shows the contents stored in the area M321. Question 1
The area M321 includes a question number storage unit M3211, a score storage unit M3212, and a scoring criterion storage unit M3213.

The question number is stored in the question number storage section M3211. Since the area of question 1 is taken as an example, "1" is stored in this case.

In the score storage unit M3212, score points that are unique values for each question are stored. This point is a score given when the answer is correct.

The scoring standard storage unit M3213 stores the scoring standard relating to the judgment of the grader giving a partial score as character data. This grading standard is used by the scoring person when it is almost impossible for the scoring person to make a decision between the correct answer and the incorrect answer when scoring a descriptive question.

The above-mentioned first to third storage units 5a, 5b,
5c are associated with each other by the header information 22 and the question number.

The fourth storage means 5d is used as a database relating to the scoring results for each examinee, and stores information necessary for statistical processing such as test scores in order of the examination numbers. Although the processing of the data stored in the fourth storage unit 5d is not mentioned in the present embodiment, the statistical processing may be performed by an existing method.

Next, in the model answer inputting work and the scoring work, the header cutting out work for cutting out the header 2 from the answer sheet 1 read by the scanner section 4 or the image input / output means 7 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. . This work is required once for each answer sheet. The apparatus of the present invention can cut out the header 2 by the following method even when the answer sheet 1 is read upside down.

FIG. 5A is an image 1a of the answer sheet when the up and down direction of the answer sheet 1 is correctly read.
FIG. 5B is an image 1a of the answer sheet when the answer sheet 1 is read in the upside down direction. The coordinates of each point on the answer sheet image 1a correspond to the coordinates of each point on the answer sheet 1. In FIG. 5A, the upper left corner A ₁ of the read answer sheet image 1a is the origin,
The coordinates of the point B ₁ at the upper left corner of the header 2 are (X ₀ , Y ₀ ) and the coordinates of the point C _{1 at} the lower right corner of the header 2 are (X ₁ , Y ₁ ). However, X ₁ = X ₀ + L ₂ and Y ₁ = Y ₀ + L ₁ .

At this time, the point B ₁ is the upper left vertex, and the point C is
_Since a rectangular portion having ₁ at the lower right apex corresponds to the position of the header 2, this portion is cut out from the image data of the answer sheet 1. Hereinafter, the cut out image is referred to as a header image.

The header image cut out from FIG. 5 (a) is shown in FIG. 6 (a), and the header image cut out from FIG. 5 (b) is shown in FIG. 6 (b). Here, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the mark 21 is included in the cut-out header image to determine whether or not it is the header portion.

If the vertical direction of the answer sheet 1 is read correctly, the header 2 is cut out correctly because the mark 21 is present in the cut out header image as shown in FIG. 6 (a).

On the other hand, when the answer sheet 1 is read in the upside down direction, the mark 21 is not present in the cut out header image as shown in FIG. 6B. In this case, by rotating the answer sheet image 1a by 180 degrees,
The answer sheet image 1a has the correct vertical direction, and the header 2 can be cut out in the same manner as described above.

Next, in the model answer inputting work, the positions of the answer column and the examination number column 3 of the answer sheet 1 are designated on the display screen 8a displaying the answer sheet image 1a, and the coordinate data indicating the positions are stored. However, in the following, FIG. 8 and FIG.
The specification method and the storage method will be described in detail based on. Here, as an example, the method of inputting the position of the answer column and the method of storing the coordinate data indicating the position are shown. However, the position of the examination number column 3 can be performed in the same manner as the position of the answer column. is there.

As a position input method, as shown in FIG. 7B, a mouse 9b (see FIG. 1) is used to move and specify a pointer 31 on the display screen 8a, and a pen 9c. There is a method of directly pointing to a point on the display screen 8a to specify the position, but either method may be used.

FIG. 8A shows the answer sheet 1 and FIG.
(B) shows a state in which the answer sheet image 1a obtained by reducing the answer sheet 1 to Z ₁ times is displayed on the display screen 8a. In this example, it is assumed that the position of the answer field of question 2 shown by hatching in FIG. 8A is designated on the display screen 8a displaying the answer sheet image 1a of FIG. 8B.

Point B ₁ on answer sheet 1 shown in FIG. 8A,
P ₁ and Q ₁ are respectively displayed on the display screen 8 shown in FIG.
It corresponds to points B ₂ , P ₂ , and Q ₂ on a. That is,
In FIG. 8A, the rectangular answer column indicated by the diagonal lines with the point P ₁ as the upper left apex and the point Q ₁ as the lower right apex is shown in FIG.
In (b), the point P _{2 corresponds} to the upper left corner and the point Q ₂ corresponds to the lower right corner. Further, FIG. 9A shows the same answer sheet 1 as FIG. 8A. Therefore,
The shaded portion in FIG. 9A represents the answer column indicated by the shaded portion in FIG. 8A.

The coordinates of each point on the display screen 8a shown in FIG. 8B are as follows, with the upper left corner D ₁ of the display screen 8a as the origin, and the point B ₂ as (X ₂ , Y ₂ ). P ₂ to (X ₃ ,
Let Y ₃ ), and point Q ₂ be (X ₄ , Y ₄ ). In addition, FIG.
In (a), the coordinates of the point P ₁ are (X ₅ , Y ₅ ) and the coordinates of the point Q ₁ are (X ₆ , Y ₆ ) with X ₅ , Y ₅ , X ₆ , and Y ₆ as unknowns.

Using the mouse 9b or the pen 9c, the point B ₂ (X ₂ , Y ₂ ) and the point P ₂ (X ₃ ,
Y ₃ ) and point Q ₂ (X ₄ , Y ₄ ) are specified, point P ₁ (X ₅ , Y ₅ ) on answer sheet 1 is calculated by the following calculation.
And the coordinates of the point Q ₁ (X ₆ , Y ₆ ) are obtained.

The deviation of the point P _{2 from} the point B _{2 in} the X-axis direction is X ₃ -X ₂ . Since it is reduced to Z ₁ times on the display screen 8a, the deviation of the point P _{1 from} the point B ₁ on the answer sheet _{1 in} the X-axis direction is (X ₃ −X ₂ ) / Z ₁ . Therefore, X-axis direction of the deviation of the point P ₁ when the point A ₁ in the origin, i.e. X _{5 is, X 5 = X 0 + (} X 3 -
X ₂ ) / Z ₁ . Similarly, Y ₅ = Y ₀ + (Y _{3
-Y 2) / Z 1, X} 6 = X 0 + (X 4 -X 2) / Z 1,
_{Y 6 = Y 0 + (Y} 4 -Y 2) / Z 1 become.

When the coordinate data of the position of each point on the answer sheet 1 is calculated as described above, the answer column on the answer sheet 1 shows the point P ₁ (X ₅ , Y ₅ ) at the upper left vertex. , Point Q ₁ (X
Since it is a rectangle with the lower right vertex of ( ₆ , Y ₆ ), the position of the answer column can be specified. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9B, the answer column position storage unit of the second storage unit 5b stores X ₅ ,
Four coordinate data of Y ₅ , X ₆ and Y ₆ are stored. In this example, the answer column position storage unit M in the area of question number "2"
Stored in 2322.

Next, in the scoring work of the answer sheet 1, the answer sheet image 1a and the correct answer or the model answer sentence are displayed in parallel and the scoring is performed.
The following is a description with reference to FIGS.

First, the display screen 8a is divided into upper and lower parts or left and right parts, one of which is provided with an answer column image display portion 41 for displaying the answer column image of the answer sheet 1, and the other is provided with a correct answer sentence display for displaying a correct answer or a model answer sentence. The section 42 is provided. That is, the answer column image display unit 41 and the correct sentence display unit 42 are provided in parallel. As a result, the grader can make a grade while looking at the correct answer sentence.

By the way, whether the display screen 8a is divided vertically or horizontally is determined by the shape of the answer column image. That is, the comparing means compares the vertical and horizontal lengths of the answer column images. If the vertical length is longer, the vertical length is determined. If the horizontal length is longer, the horizontal and horizontal answer column images are determined. When the answer column image has a horizontally long shape, as shown in FIG. 10A, the display screen 8a is vertically divided and the answer column image display section 41 is provided on one side.
The answer column image is displayed there. When the shape of the answer column image is vertically long, as shown in FIG. 10B, the display screen 8a is divided into left and right, and the answer column image display section 41 is provided on one side, and the answer column image is displayed there. Is displayed.

In this example, the correct answer sentence display section 42 is provided above the answer column image display section 41, or the correct answer sentence display section 42 is provided on the right side of the answer column image display section 41. The positional relationship between the display unit 41 and the correct sentence display unit 42 is not limited to the positional relationship shown in FIG.

Here, when the answer column image is displayed on the answer column image display section 41 as described above, as shown in FIG. 11, the outer frame of the answer column image determined by the position input of the answer column described above, That is, the answer column image frame 5
If 1 is larger than the answer column image display section 41, the display reduction ratio is designated from the input means 9, and the display reduction ratio shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2 (a), the answer column image can be reduced and stored in the answer column image display unit 41. On the contrary, the answer column image frame 51 indicates that the answer column image display section 4
If it is smaller than 1, it is possible to enlarge the answer column image and display it on the answer column image display section 41 by designating the display enlargement ratio from the input means 9, although not shown.

Further, as shown in FIG. 12B, by scrolling the answer column image vertically and horizontally within the frame of the answer column image display section 41 without reducing the answer column image, the answer column image is displayed. It is also possible to see the whole.

In addition to the above, for example, even when the answer is written outside the answer column, it is possible to deal with the problem similarly by reducing or scrolling the answer column image as described above.

Further, even when the model answer text does not fit in the correct answer text display portion 42, the entire text can be viewed by reducing or scrolling as in the case of displaying the answer box image.

With the above configuration, even if the answer column image is larger than the display screen, the grader can confirm the answer by reducing the answer column image or scrolling as necessary. Further, even when the answer is written outside the answer column, it can be processed as a scoring target.

Next, the flow of operation of this embodiment will be described in detail. First, the model answer input work will be described based on the flowcharts of FIGS. 3, 4, 6, 7, and 16.

First, X which is information indicating the position of the header 2
₀ , Y ₀ , L ₁ and L ₂ are input by the input means 9. Then, based on the specific example of the answer sheet 1 described above, the answer sheet 1
Is created (S101). The answer sheet 1 may be created by handwriting or by inputting characters or ruled lines from the keyboard 9a.

When the answer sheet 1 is created by handwriting,
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the header 2 is provided in a predetermined format at a predetermined position on the answer sheet 1. Since the answer sheet 1 immediately after being created has no written answer, it is referred to as a blank answer sheet 1. Next, the blank answer sheet 1 is read by the scanner unit 4 (S102) and is stored in the internal storage means 11a of the CPU 11 as image data of the answer sheet 1.

Next, the header 2 is cut out and whether or not the answer sheet 1 is vertically oriented is checked. Before the header 2 is checked, a counter not shown in FIG. 1 is counted. Reset to "0" (S
104). In S104, the CPU 11 functions as a specific information reading unit.

The purpose of using the counter is to answer the answer sheet image 1a when the answer sheet 1 is read upside down, or when a blank sheet of paper or an unrelated sheet is read. This is to prevent the header part from being confirmed no matter how many times it is rotated, and the confirmation operation is infinitely repeated.

After setting the above counter, the header 2
Is cut out and it is confirmed whether or not the vertical direction of the answer sheet 1 is correct (S105).

Here, as shown in FIG. 6A, when the cut-out header image includes the mark 21, it is determined that the vertical direction of the answer sheet 1 is correctly read. Then, the header information 22 of the cut out header image is converted into character data by the character recognition unit 6, and the header information storage unit M2 of the second and third storage units 5b and 5c.
1, stored in M31 (S110).

However, as shown in FIG. 6B, when there is no mark 21 in the cut out header image, the following measures are taken.

First, it is confirmed whether or not the count of the counter is "1" (S106).

When the count on the counter is "0", it is determined that the answer sheet 1 has been read upside down and the count "1" is set on the counter (S
107) and rotate the answer sheet image 1a by 180 degrees (S108). By this operation, answer sheet image 1a
Now the header image should be cropped because the up and down direction of is correct. Then, returning to S105, the header image is cut out again in the same manner as above. The header information 22 of the cut-out header image is converted into character data by the character recognition unit 6 in the same manner as above, and the second and third header data is converted.
Header information storage units M21 and M31 of the storage units 5b and 5c
(S110).

However, if the mark 21 cannot be detected in S105 and the count of the counter is "1" in S106, the front and back of the answer sheet 1 are read in reverse, or at all. Blank paper,
Alternatively, it is determined that a completely unrelated sheet has been read, and a sheet error is displayed (S109), and this operation ends.

On the other hand, when the answer sheet 1 is created by inputting from the keyboard 9a, the question, the answer column, the header information 22 and the like are input by using the existing word processing function, etc.
And, as shown in FIG. 4, the header 2 is input in a predetermined format and position. The entered answer sheet data is stored in the internal storage means 11a of the CPU 11 as character and image data. The header information 22 at this time is the second storage means 5b.
Stored in. When the input is completed, the answer sheet 1 is printed by the printer unit 10 (S103). Printed answer sheet 1
Is called blank answer sheet 1 because the answer has not been written yet. After that, the image data of the answer sheet 1 created by handwriting and the answer sheet data input from the keyboard 9a are treated the same.

Next, the answer sheet image 1a stored in the internal storage means 11a of the CPU 11 is displayed on the display screen 8a (S111), and as described in detail below, the blank answer sheet 1 is filled with the examination number column. 3 and position of answer column, correct answer or model answer sentence is input (S112, S
113).

Here, when the answer sheet image 1a fits within the display screen 8a, there is no problem, but the answer sheet image 1
When a is larger than the display screen size and cannot fit in the display screen 8a, the answer sheet image 1a is automatically reduced and displayed on the display screen 8a.

FIG. 7A shows a blank answer sheet 1,
FIG. 7B shows a state in which the answer sheet image 1a obtained by reducing the blank answer sheet 1 to Z ₂ times is displayed on the display screen 8a. In this example, if the vertical length of the blank answer sheet 1 is L ₁₁ and the vertical length of the answer sheet image 1a on the display screen 8a is L ₁₂ , then L ₁₂ = L ₁₁ × Z _2. .

Next, while looking at the answer sheet image 1a displayed on the display screen 8a, the position of the examination number column 3 is input on the display screen 8a by the above-described position input method.
The input position data of the examination number column 3 is stored in the examination number column position storage unit M22 of the second storage means 5b (S).
112).

Next, the position of the answer column is entered. Then
The question number is automatically set, and the question number and the position data of the answer column are stored in the corresponding question number area of the second storage means 5b (S112). Question number is answer sheet 1
Regardless of the question number written in, the answer column position data is set in the order entered, 1, 2, ...
If possible, it is better to attach the question numbers written on answer sheet 1 in ascending order of natural numbers.

At this time, if the question is a selection type,
An operation such as pressing a specific key is performed on the keyboard 9a to indicate that the question is a selection type. Then, the flag indicating the selection type is stored in the test type determination flag storage area of the question number of the second storage unit 5b.

After that, the sentence of the correct answer or the model answer of the question is input from the keyboard 9a. The entered correct answer text of the question is stored as character data in the correct answer / model answer text storage area of the question number of the second storage means 5b (S113).

When there is a part to be used as a keyword for scoring in the model answer text, if the range of the keyword in the answer text is designated on the display screen 8a by the input means 9, the keyword position data is stored in the second storage means 5b. Is stored in the storage area of the keyword, etc. of the question number (S113). Since the model answer text is character data, the position of the keyword can be specified in the form of what character to what character counting from the beginning of the model answer text. In other words, the keyword position data can be specified by two numeric data starting from what character and ending at what character.

Next, the score for the correct answer of the question is input from the keyboard 9a and stored in the score storage area of the question number of the third storage means 5c (S113). Also, in the case of descriptive questions, it is impossible to score with correct / incorrect answers, so in such cases,
Keyboard 9 is also used as a scoring reference to give partial points.
It is input from a and is stored in the scoring standard storage area of the question number of the third storage means 5c (S113).

The above is performed for all the answer columns of the displayed answer sheet image 1a (S114).
If there are a plurality of answer sheets for which the model answers have been input in advance, the process returns to S101 and the above-described work is repeated by the number of sheets (S115).

For example, when the answer sheet for the English test is composed of three sheets, the above work is repeated three times. At this time, the header information 2 having the same test number 23 but different page number 24
There are two ways. That is, for example, EN1124
There are three pieces of header information 22 such as -1, EN1124-2, and EN1124-3. When this happens
When the answer sheet 1 is read, the page numbers 24 are not always read in ascending order. Therefore, when the model answer is input, the first storage means 5a are rearranged in the ascending order of the page numbers 24. The same applies to the second and third storage means 5b and 5c. That is, although not particularly shown, even when the answer sheet 1 is read in any order,
By arranging the first storage means 5a in which the answer sheet image 1a is stored with the page number 24 as a key and rearranging them in ascending order of the page number 24, the scoring process can be performed in the page number order in the following scoring work. Become. At this time, the CPU 11 functions as an aligning unit.

The above is the description of the operation in the model answer input work.

Next, the scoring work will be described in detail with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 13, 14 and 17. As described above, the scoring work is composed of the answer sheet input work as the first half process and the scoring judgment input work as the second half process.

First, the answer sheet inputting work, which is the first half of the scoring work, will be described.

After the test is performed using the blank answer sheet 1 created in the previous work, the answer sheet 1 in which the answer is written by the examinee is read by the scanner section 4 (S201).
The read answer sheet image 1a is stored in the first storage means 5.
It is stored in the answer sheet image storage unit M13 of a.

Next, the count of the counter is reset to "0" (S202), and the header 2 is cut out (S).
203). At this time, the CPU 11 functions as a specific information reading unit.

Here, when the header 2 is not cut out, it is first confirmed whether the count of the counter is "1" (S204).

If the count on the counter is "0", it is determined that the answer sheet 1 has been read upside down and the count "1" is set on the counter (S
205), rotate the answer sheet image 1a by 180 degrees (S206). By this operation, answer sheet image 1a
Now the header image should be cropped because the up and down direction of is correct. Then, returning to S203, the header image is again cut out in the same manner as above.

However, when the count of the counter is "1" in S204, the front and back of the answer sheet 1 are read in reverse, or a sheet in which nothing is written,
Alternatively, it is determined that a completely irrelevant sheet has been read, and a sheet error is displayed (S207), and this operation ends.

The counter is used to prevent the answer sheet image 1a from being rotated and the header 2 from being cut out indefinitely when the header 2 is cut out in the model answer input work described above. Is exactly the same as

As described above, the header information 22 of the cut-out header image is converted into character data by the character recognition unit 6 and stored in the header information storage unit M11 of the first storage means 5a (S208). .

The header information 22 of the header image cut out from the answer sheet image 1a is searched for an item starting with the same header information 22 in the second and third storage sections 5b and 5c, so that the answer sheet currently read. The data regarding the score of 1 can be retrieved from the second and third storage units 5b and 5c.

Further, the portion of the examination number column 3 is cut out from the answer sheet image based on the examination number column position data of the examination number column position storage section M22 of the second storage means 5b which has been called. The examination number is converted into character data by the character recognition unit 6 and stored in the examination number storage unit M12 of the first storage unit 5a (S208).

Next, in S209, it is determined whether or not all of the answered answer sheets 1 have been read. If all of the answered answer sheets 1 have not been read, the process returns to S201 to read the plurality of answered answer sheets 1. Repeat the above work until completed. At this time, one first storage means 5a is assigned to one answer sheet. That is, the first storage means 5a is prepared in the same number as the number of answer sheets to be read.

The read answer sheet image data is arranged in the order of the examination numbers, but even if the answer sheets 1 are read out of order, the answer sheet images 1a can be rearranged in the ascending order of the examination numbers. Therefore,
No particular mention is made of this point.

In the above answer sheet inputting work,
In addition to using the scanner unit 4 as a means for reading the completed answer sheet 1, as shown in FIG.
It is also possible to use means such as X or video camera 61. That is, the answer sheet image 1a transmitted from a distant place by FAX or video signal is sent to the FAX 7a of the image input / output unit 7 of the present system through the communication path.
The answer sheet image data can be obtained by receiving the video 7b.

Next, the scoring determination inputting work, which is the latter half of the scoring work, will be described.

The answer sheet image 1a is stored in the answer sheet image storage section M13 of the first storage means 5a, and the correct answer or model answer sentence data is the correct answer / model answer sentence of the question number in the second storage means 5b. Since it is already stored in the storage unit, the grader can grade any question.

First, the grader specifies the header information 22, the examination number, and the question number using the input means 9 (S21).
0). Based on the specified header information 22 and examination number,
The CPU 11 searches for the corresponding first storage means 5a and retrieves the answer sheet image 1a from the answer sheet image storage unit M13.
Call.

Further, based on the designated header information 22, the corresponding second and third storage units 5b and 5c are searched, and the test type discrimination flag, the correct answer or the correct answer from the storage area of the question number designated by the grader. Call up information such as model answer texts, keywords, points, and scoring criteria.

If a flag indicating that the question is a selection type is stored in the test type discrimination flag storage section of the second storage means 5b, the question is determined as a selection type (S211). . In S211, the CPU 11 functions as a question determination means. In this case, the scoring work is automatically performed by the CPU 11 as follows.

CP based on the specified header information 22
U11 searches for the corresponding second storage unit 5b and calls the position data of the answer column from the answer column position storage unit M13.
Then, the CPU 11 functions as designated area reading means, cuts out and reads out the answer column image from the answer sheet image 1a based on the obtained position data of the answer column, and the read answer column image serves as the character recognition means. Is converted into character data by the character recognition unit 6 (S2
20). After that, the CPU 11 compares the obtained character data with the correct answer (S221), and automatically determines the correctness (S222). In the above S221 to S222, C
The PU 11 functions as a correctness determination means.

Here, if the character data obtained from the answer column image and the correct answer are the same, it is determined that the answer is correct,
○ is given as a judgment result, and a score is given as a score (S2
16) The determination result and the score are stored in the determination result storage unit and the score storage unit of the question number of the first storage unit 5a.
If the obtained character data is not equal to the correct answer, it is determined to be an incorrect answer, x is given as a decision result, and 0 point is given as a score (S218). The question number is stored in the determination result storage unit and the score storage unit of the storage unit 5a. At this time, the CPU 11 functions as control means.

On the other hand, in S211, if the flag indicating that the question is a selection type is not stored in the test type discrimination flag storage unit, the question is determined to be a descriptive type and the scoring work is performed as follows. Be seen.

Based on the specified header information 22, the CP
U11 searches the second storage means 5b, and calls the position data of the answer column from the answer column position storage unit in the storage area of the question number designated by the grader. An answer column image is cut out from the answer sheet image 1a from the obtained answer column position data (S212).

Then, as shown in FIG. 13, the obtained answer column image is displayed on the answer column image display portion 41 of the display screen 8a. Further, the CPU 11 displays the already-answered correct answer or model answer sentence in the correct answer sentence display portion 42 of the display screen 8a in parallel with the answer column image display portion 41 (S213). At this time, also in S212 to S213, the CPU 11 functions as a control unit.

The grader compares the answer image for each question with the correct answer or the model answer sentence on the display screen 8a to make a score. At this time, the correct answer text display section 42 displays the scoring criterion T ₁
Are displayed together and the points are graded while referring to them.

Here, in the correct answer or model answer sentence,
Even when the keyword as the scoring point is included, it is displayed on the correct sentence display unit 42. The keyword part is reversed in black and white, displayed with underline,
Alternatively, it can be displayed in a color different from the part other than the keyword.

With the above configuration, the method of displaying the keyword serving as the scoring standard is different from that of the other parts for the model answer of the descriptive question, so that the keyword that must be included in the answer can be seen at a glance and can be quickly displayed. It is possible to perform accurate scoring processing, and it is possible to easily perform accurate scoring even if not the questioner himself.

Next, as a result of comparing the answer with the correct answer, the grader judges that if the answer is correct, the judgment result is ○, if the answer is incorrect, the judgment result is ×, and otherwise, the answer is correct / When it is difficult to determine an incorrect answer and a partial point is given, Δ is input as the determination result by the input means 9 (S21).
4). At this time, the icon 32 is displayed in the correct sentence display section 42.
Shows the judgment result of ○, ×, △, and mouse 9
The determination result is input by an operation such as moving the pointer 31 on the display screen 8a with b. The inputted judgment result is stored in the judgment result storage section in the area of the relevant question number of the first storage means 5a.

Further, according to the judgment result, the score is automatically calculated as follows. If the judgment is ○ (correct answer),
The score becomes the score as it is (S215, S216), and if the judgment is x (incorrect answer), the score becomes 0 (S2).
17, S218). When the judgment is Δ (other), the grader inputs the score from the input means 9 with reference to the scoring standard T ₁ (S219). The score given is the first
The score (for example, 12 points) for the score (for example, 20 points) is displayed in the answer column image display section 41 as shown in FIG. To be done.

Here, in addition to the judgment results of ◯, ×, and Δ, as shown in FIG. 13, when the grader wants to write a comment T ₂ , an underline, a check mark T _3, etc. in the answer, the display screen It is possible to input with the input means 9 such as the pen 9c on the answer column image display portion 41 of 8a. The contents input here are stored in the image data format in the comment storage unit of the area of the question number of the first storage unit 5a.

With the above, the scoring work for one answer column is completed. If there is an unanswered answer in another question, the process returns to S210 and the above scoring work is repeated (S2).
10 to S223). In S210, the grader can instruct whether the answer to be graded next is the next question on the same answer sheet 1, another examinee's answer on the same question, or another answer.

If the judgment results have been input for all the questions, finally, the total score of the answer sheets is calculated (S224), and the scoring work for all the answer sheets is completed.

Note that in S224, the answer sheet for one test is 1
In the case of one sheet, the score is called from the score storage unit of the corresponding first storage unit 5a and summed up.

When the answer sheet for one test is composed of a plurality of answer sheets, the corresponding first storage means 5a has the number of answer sheets, and therefore, the points are called from each score storage unit and they are stored. Add up.

The calculated total points are recorded together with the header information 22 in the area of the examination number of the database prepared in the fourth storage means 5d. This data can be used for various statistical processes.

The above is the description of the operation in the scoring work.

With the above configuration, the grader can write a comment, an underline, a check mark, or the like on the answer image of each question by overwriting the answer of the examinee, so that arbitrary handwritten data is added to the answer. be able to.

For example, in scoring a calculation problem, it is often the case that the calculation result is an incorrect answer, but the answer is correct up to the middle of the calculation. in this case,
If you show only the incorrect answer to the answerer as a scoring result,
Not a very good method of education. By commenting on where and how the grader made a mistake,
This makes it easier to recognize the wrong part of the answerer. That is,
The grader is not limited to the scoring process of notifying only correct / incorrect answers, but the grader can provide all the grade information to the answerer.

Further, with the above configuration, since the same problem can be continuously scored, the scoring time can be shortened. That is, the method of scoring the answers on an individual basis is effective for a relatively small number of people. However, when scoring a large number of people at one time, it is necessary to compare each answer with a model answer, which may affect the processing speed. Therefore, by making it possible to continuously score the same question, it is possible to perform a scoring process according to the number of scoring persons.

Finally, the output operation of the scoring result for the answer sheet 1 for which the scoring has been completed will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the answer sheet 1 for which the scoring result is desired to be output is set in the printer section 10. At this time, the grader looks at the answer sheet 1 and inputs the header information 22 and the examination number from the input means 9 (S301). On the basis of the specified information, first, fourth storage unit 5a, from the corresponding storage area of 5d, the determination result, a score, a comment T ₂ or check mark T _3, calls the total point, and the second memory The answer column position information and the examination number column position information of the means 5b are also called here.

Next, the grader designates whether or not the answer sheet 1 is overwritten by the input means 9 (S302).
If overwrite printing is specified here, various scoring results are overwritten on the corresponding part of the answer on the answer sheet 1 based on the data called from the fourth storage means 5d (S303).

For example, as to the question 1, the first item is placed at an appropriate position of the answer column position called from the second storage means 5b.
The determination result of question 1 called from the determination result storage unit M1412 of the storage unit 5a is overwritten and printed. The same applies to scores and comments. At this time, the judgment result input by the grader and the scores and comments written on the screen are respectively stored as image data in the judgment result storage unit, the score storage unit, and the comment storage unit, which are the same size as the answer column size. Therefore, it is possible to overwrite by using the answer column position information. Below, questions 2, 3,
... is similarly overprinted, and finally, based on the examination number column position information, the fourth position is set at an appropriate position on the answer sheet 1.
The total points called from the storage means 5d are printed.

With the above construction, the scoring results, comments, etc. can be overwritten and printed on each answer sheet, so that a more general scoring mode for the test can be realized by the apparatus of the present invention. That is, if only the scores are printed or only the scoring results such as O and X are printed, it is very unkind, for example, when re-examining the incorrect answer portion. By enabling overwriting printing of comments and advices given by the grader, it is possible to expand the usable fields of the grade processing apparatus.

Also, instead of overwriting and printing on the answer sheet 1 in S302, the answer sheet image 1a and various scoring results can be combined and output.

That is, first, the answer sheet image data is called from the first storage means 5a, and it is read by the CPU 11
It is stored in the internal storage means 11a. Then, based on the already-answered answer column position data, various scoring results such as judgment results, scores, and comments are placed in the answer column position of the corresponding question number on the answer sheet image data stored in the internal storage means 11a. Composite as an image. Further, the total point called from the fourth storage means 5d is also combined at an appropriate position on the answer sheet image 1a (S304).

As the output method of the combined scoring result image data, in addition to the method of printing by the printer section 10 and outputting, the image input / output means 7 such as the FAX 7a and the video 7b as shown in FIG. 15 is used. There is also a method of outputting via a communication path. FAX the marking result image data
When sent by, the scoring result of the combined answer is printed on the FAX recording paper on the receiving side. On the other hand, when the scoring result image data is output as a video signal, the receiving side can view the scoring result image of the answer on the video monitor 62 or print it on a video printer (not shown) (S305). In this way, by transmitting using the image input / output means 7, the content of the scoring result can be confirmed at a remote location.

The above-mentioned scoring result output work is repeated for the number of scored answer sheets (S306). When the scoring result output work is performed for all the graded answer sheets, the scoring result output work is completed.

With the above structure, not only the graded answer sheet can be directly collected and returned by a person, but also
It can be collected and returned even by using communication means such as FAX.
For example, in the field of education such as cram school and distance education, FAX
It is conceivable to exchange teaching materials using communication means such as. Even in such a case, the image data of the answer sheet image 1a can be received, or the scoring result can be transmitted as the image data, so that the examinees are distributed over a wide area. However, it is possible to easily collect the answers and notify the results.

[0191]

As described above, the answer scoring processing device according to the invention of claim 1 reads the answer sheet in which the answer to the question is written by the examinee, and the answer read by the reading means. A first storage means for storing, an input means for inputting the correct answer of the question and a scoring standard for the question, a second storage means for storing the input correct answer, and a third storage means for storing the input scoring standard. The storage means and the first to third storage means, each of which is divided into a plurality of areas, are managed in association with each other for each question, and at the time of scoring the answer, the answer, the correct answer, and the scoring standard are queried on the display screen. Each of them has a configuration including a control unit that controls reading of the first to third storage units and display on the display screen so that they are simultaneously displayed in parallel.

Therefore, the scoring of the grader can be visually facilitated, and the grader can accurately and quickly perform the scoring process. In addition, when scoring, not only the answer and the correct answer are displayed in parallel on the display screen, but the scoring criteria can be displayed at the same time in parallel, so that the scoring person can perform scoring based on the unified scoring criteria, and the examinee himself Accurate scoring can be done easily without it. In addition, the above-described effect also brings about an effect that the field of use of the answer scoring processing device can be expanded.

As described above, the answer scoring processing device according to the invention of claim 2 determines whether the specified question is a selection-type question or a descriptive-type question when scoring the answer in addition to the structure of claim 1. By the question determination means and the question determination means
When the designated question is determined to be a selection-type question, a designated area reading unit that cuts out and reads the corresponding answer column region from the answer stored in the first storage unit, and reads by the designated region reading unit. The character recognition means for recognizing the contents of the area, the correctness judgment means for comparing the contents of the area with the corresponding correct answer based on the character recognition to judge correctness, the control means, the question judgment means. If the specified question is judged to be a multiple choice question,
The determination result determined by the correctness determination means is stored in the first storage means for each question, and when the question designated by the question determination means is determined to be a descriptive question,
The answer, the correct answer, and the scoring standard are displayed in parallel on the display screen for each question at the same time.

Therefore, in addition to the effect of the configuration of claim 1, in the scoring process of the test questions in which the multiple choice questions and the descriptive questions are mixed, in the case of the multiple choice questions, the automatic scoring of the CPU gives the scoring. The person does not need to score the multiple-choice question, and the burden of the scoring work on the grader can be reduced. On the other hand, when the question to be scored is a descriptive question, the answer, the correct answer, and the scoring criterion are simultaneously displayed in parallel on the display screen, so that the same effect as that of the configuration of claim 1 can be obtained. Will also be played.

As described above, in the answer scoring processing device according to the invention of claim 3, in addition to the constitutions of claims 1 and 2, at the time of scoring the answer, the vertical and horizontal lengths of the corresponding answer columns are large or small. The control means includes a comparison means for comparing the relationships, and the control means divides the display screen into left and right or up and down based on the comparison result by the comparison means, displays the answer on one of the divided display screens, and divides the display screen. The configuration is such that the correct answer and the scoring standard are displayed on the other side of the display screen.

Therefore, in addition to the effects of the constitutions of claims 1 and 2, the display screen is automatically divided into left and right or up and down based on the shape of the answer column, and the answer, the correct answer and the scoring standard are arranged in parallel. Since it is displayed at the same time, the visibility is good, and it is possible to give a good scoring environment such as easy comparison and examination of answer and correct answer and scoring, and it is said that scoring work can be done quickly. Produce an effect.

As described above, the answer scoring processing device according to the invention of claim 4 reads the answer sheet in which the answer to the question is written by the examinee, and the image of the answer sheet read by the reading means. Storage means for storing each area separately, and specific information reading means for reading information including the order of the answer sheet added to the specific position of the answer sheet from the storage area of the storage means, When the information reading unit cannot read the information, the image of the answer sheet stored in the storage unit is rotated, and the images of the plurality of answer sheets stored in the storage unit are presented based on the read information. This is a configuration including an aligning unit that rearranges the sheets in order.

Therefore, by detecting the information added to the specific position of the answer sheet, it is possible to determine the vertical direction and the front and back of the answer sheet, and also to determine whether a blank sheet and an unrelated answer sheet have been read. can do. Further, when the answer sheet is read upside down in the opposite direction, the answer sheet image can be rotated by 180 degrees to correct the up and down direction of the answer sheet and perform the scoring process. In addition, as a scoring process when the answer sheet for one test is composed of multiple sheets, even if the answer sheets are not read in the order of page numbers, the answer sheet image is displayed based on the information added to the specific position of the answer sheet. By rearranging the pages in the order of page numbers, the scoring work can be performed together.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a system configuration of an answer scoring processing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing storage area allocation of a storage unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of an answer sheet.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a header added to the answer sheet.

FIG. 5A is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the upper and lower sides of the answer sheet are correctly read, and FIG. 5B is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the upper and lower sides of the answer sheet are read. .

6A is an explanatory diagram showing a header image cut out from the answer sheet image of FIG. 5A, FIG.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a header image cut out from the answer sheet image of FIG.

FIG. 7 (a) is an explanatory view showing an answer sheet,
(B) is an explanatory view showing a state in which the answer sheet image is displayed on the display screen.

FIG. 8A is an explanatory diagram showing the position of each point on the answer sheet, and FIG. 8B is an explanatory diagram showing the position of each point on the answer sheet image displayed on the display screen. is there.

9A is an explanatory diagram showing the coordinates of the position of the answer column on the answer sheet, and FIG. 9B is the diagram showing the coordinates of the position of the answer column shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state.

FIG. 10A is an explanatory diagram showing that the display screen is divided into upper and lower parts, and an answer column image display unit and a correct sentence display unit are provided in parallel; and FIG. FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing that the answer column image display unit and the correct answer sentence display unit are provided in parallel by being divided into left and right.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a state where the answer column image frame is larger than the answer column image display portion.

FIG. 12A is an explanatory view showing a state in which the answer column image is reduced and displayed on the answer column image display unit,
(B) is an explanatory view showing a state in which the answer column image is scrolled in the answer column image display portion without reducing the answer column image.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which scoring criteria, scoring, scoring results and the like are displayed on the display screen during scoring.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing that an answer sheet image is received from a remote place by using the image input / output means.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing that an answer sheet image in which scoring results are combined is transmitted to a remote place by using an image input / output unit.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a model answer input operation.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing scoring work.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing scoring result output work.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 answer sheet 4 scanner section (reading means) 5 storage section 5a first storage section 5b second storage section 5c third storage section 6 character recognition section (character recognition section) 7 image input / output section (reading section) 9 Input means 11 CPU (control means, question determining means, designated area reading means, correctness determining means, comparing means, specific information reading means, aligning means)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A reading means for reading an answer sheet in which an answer to a question is filled in by an examinee, a first storing means for storing the answer read by the reading means, a correct answer of the question and a scoring standard for the question. Input means for inputting the input, a second storage means for storing the input correct answer, a third storage means for storing the input scoring reference, and the first to third portions respectively divided into a plurality of areas. In order to manage the storage means of each question by associating them with each other, the answer, the correct answer and the scoring standard are simultaneously displayed in parallel on the display screen for each question. An answer scoring processing device comprising: a control means for controlling reading of a storage means and display on a display screen. 2. When the answer is scored, the question determining means determines whether the designated question is a selective question or a descriptive question, and the designated question is determined to be a selective question by the question determining means. And a specified area reading means for reading out the corresponding answer field area cut out from the answer stored in the first storage means, and a character recognition means for recognizing the contents of the area read by the specified area reading means as characters. If the question designated by the question decision means is judged to be a selection-type question, the correctness decision means for comparing the contents of the area and the corresponding correct answer based on character recognition to judge correctness, and the control means. In addition, the determination result determined by the correctness determination means is stored in the first storage means for each question, and when the question designated by the question determination means is determined to be a descriptive question. In this case, the answer scoring device according to claim 1, wherein the answer, the correct answer and the scoring standard are displayed on the display screen in parallel for each question at the same time. 3. When scoring an answer, there is provided comparison means for comparing the vertical and horizontal length relationships of the corresponding answer columns, and the control means is based on the comparison result by the comparison means.
The display screen is divided into left and right or up and down, the answer is displayed on one of the divided display screens, and the correct answer and the scoring standard are displayed on the other of the divided display screens. The answer score processing device described in 2. 4. A reading means for reading an answer sheet in which an answer to a question is written by an examinee, and a storage means for storing an image of the answer sheet read by the reading means in each area in a divided manner. Specific information reading means for reading the information including the order of the answer sheet added to the specific position of the answer sheet from the storage area of the storing means, and the storing means for storing the information when the specific information reading means cannot read the information. Rotating the stored image of the answer sheet and aligning means for rearranging the images of the plurality of answer sheets stored in the storage means in the order of the answer sheet based on the read information. An answer scoring device.